The Banner Saga finally out today, watch our stream of this Kickstarter strategy RPG on Twitch.tv

Today, The Banner Saga is officially out for the masses. Yes, this Kickstarter-funded game has finally arrived in full, treating strategy lovers to a fantastical world of viking giants, terrifying dredge, and a sun that doesn't move.

Appearing on Kickstarter in 2012, The Banner Saga is a strategy RPG and the first game from Stoic Studio, a company formed by three former BioWare developers. Before long, the project raised more than its $700,000 goal.

You can check out the new launch trailer as well, which features a little bit of the story and offers glimpses of combat and characters.

Additionally, we'll be streaming a playthrough of the game from beginning to end, for those who are curious to see it in action and have yet to get their hands on a copy. Well, not at once, given that the game stretches well beyond ten hours. As for anyone who pre-ordered on Steam or backed the Kickstarter, you should already have a copy of the game available.

SpartanNinja I love that the game gives little to no indication who's supposed to die and who died because you screwed up.

Especially when your near the end of the game.

It was an interesting game, it gave you a sliver of foreknowledge about your choices, most of the time and even then people could be effected that you din't expect. For instance

Spoiler:Egil

Highlight this box with your cursor to read the spoiler text. Right at the beginning of Rook's game he says he is going to protect Alette, and he does. On no less than 2 occasions and probably more if I chose differently he took the blow for her unless otherwise saved himself. One is 90% into the game. When Onef the Backbiter (as if that wasn't clue enough) betrays you. Egil has to be my favorite melee character, the best human tank you can use and a hard hitter himself, but so far he has died 3 different ways with me and I saw another which makes 4 at least and there is even an achievement for keeping him alive the whole game (and presumably the next two as well.

Spoiler:Egil

Right at the beginning of Rook's game he says he is going to protect Alette, and he does. On no less than 2 occasions and probably more if I chose differently he took the blow for her unless otherwise saved himself. One is 90% into the game. When Onef the Backbiter (as if that wasn't clue enough) betrays you. Egil has to be my favorite melee character, the best human tank you can use and a hard hitter himself, but so far he has died 3 different ways with me and I saw another which makes 4 at least and there is even an achievement for keeping him alive the whole game (and presumably the next two as well.

Running the caravan is tricky too. There is no way (that I know of) to avoid having to buy supplies in order not to have them starve. But again the game gives you ample enough time to look at the map figure out how many supplies will get you to the next supply without attrition, and to plan ahead and get extras just in case. And even then some towns simply don't exist anymore and buying supplies from them is impossible. Cause the random (not so random really) things that can happen can make or break those supplies if you don't plan ahead.

And then you have to balance whether to use your renown for leveling up (which is vital), buying supplies (also vital) or buying equipment (not so vital, to the point where I didn't buy any equipment except what the story gave us to save renown for other things and it paid off in the mid and late game, it really did).

Spoiler:Alette, Ekkil, etc.

Highlight this box with your cursor to read the spoiler text.Tell me you saw Ekkil being the good one compared to Onef and I would call you a liar. Also Did you decide to shoot the arrow yourself? I chose to let Alette shoot it and she died, SHE DIED, shit I thought she would be one of those characters that wore invincible plot armor...

Spoiler:Alette, Ekkil, etc.

Tell me you saw Ekkil being the good one compared to Onef and I would call you a liar. Also Did you decide to shoot the arrow yourself? I chose to let Alette shoot it and she died, SHE DIED, shit I thought she would be one of those characters that wore invincible plot armor...

I also liked the fact thet losing a battle doesn't automatically mean you lose the game, you dig yourself into a hole during later parts of the game and someone usually dies saving you but you live with that choice and move on.

Long story, even the most inconsequential choice can literally mean life or death. And the ending was probably one of the saddest things I saw in awhile. Of one of your Heroes or the deaths of many in your caravan.